Stupid setting chapters about to end soon, promise
Thanks to WifeOfSatan for rereviewing, Lana Manckir, Sirius Black and neina for reading and being nice : - )), Melwasul (happy you think so...), and AnaNinaSnape, (thank you! I guess you will speak portuguese, but just out of curiosity, do you speak any spanish?). And Endilwen.
- - - - - -
She was so tired... she lay on her bed. It had been great, a duel against Snape, and she hadn't been too bad... She would have liked to try other spells she had read about, like the Cheering Charm. It would really fit Snape; he would probably prefer her to cast Imperio or Cruciatus on him rather than a Cheering Charm.
She forced herself to stop that train of thought, but it wasn't necessary, her eyes closed and she was asleep before she could realize or take the Dreamless Sleeping Potion.
- - - - -
She was walking down a corridor. There was light under the door at the end of it, so she opened it. She wanted to scream but no sound came out of her throat. Her family laid dead on the floor. Ron was there, also, his lifeless eyes staring back at her. Harry, Snape and Dumbledore were also in the room.
They were fighting against a rat. Then it became a snake. She knew it was Voldemort, but they didn't. She had to tell them... She screamed, and then they turned round. That very moment, the snake took Voldemort's shape and said "Avada Kedavra" with his hissing voice full of happiness. "Thank you, mudblood"
It had been her fault! Snape and Dumbledore both lay dead. But Harry managed to get up. Voldemort knew he couldn't kill him. They shared too many things.
"Imperio" he said, pointing Hermione with a nasty grin.
Then she took out her wand, pointed Harry and a green light surrounded the boy while she heard herself saying "Avada Kedavra" and she saw him falling very slowly, very, very slowly...
She woke up, sweating, and turned on the light. Crookshanks sniffed around her, not able to undestand what the problem was. She passed her fingers over his back, and then took a sip of the bottle over the table. Maybe it was too much. Damn, she didn't care. She went back to her bed, still trembling. It had been her fault... the words still echoed in her mind.
- - - - -
A knock on the door woke her up.
"Hermione, come on, we're late!"
Friday. No special classes, free time. She had rested some hours, but not enough. Her back was aching sharply.
"Gimme a sec, guys, I'll be downstairs in a minute"
"Ok, but don't take too long or you'll miss breakfast!"
Her eyes met the bottle. She was running out of that wonderful liquid. She would have to ask Snape for more, but she just didn't want him to ask why she needed it so badly.
- - - - - -
Snape was tired. The class with Miss Granger had required some effort.
He stared at the ceiling.
Suddenly he found himself in front of a giantic snake. Nagini, he thought, but it wasn't Nagini. Dumbledore and that Potty-boy, as Draco Malfoy called Harry, were at his sides. Suddenly, a cry called their attention and they turned towards the door.
Hermione stood there, horrified, before her family's and Ron's corpses, pointing to the snake and saying "it is Voldemort!"
But is was too late. Snape could hear Voldemort's curse and then he could see nothing else. He found himself floating over his own body and Dumbledore's. That Potter weed was still alive, but... oh Merlin. Hermione had killed him. And now Voldemort was using Cruciatus on Hermione. He wanted to stop her suffering, he tried to put himself betwen Voldemort and her, but he was no more than a ghost.
He opened his eyes. In less than a second, his brain processed what had happened. He hadn't take the potion. He was running out of it.
He had never had nightmares about dying. All his nightmares were about the past, about memories he wanted to forget, remorse, old feuds, old wounds... never about students. Had it been his "inner eye"? he wondered, mocking the term Trelawey liked to use. He got up, put on his robes and went into the corridors for a walk. Maybe it was the time to pay Parkinson a visit, and check about that muggle lover she had found. He would need something to tell Voldemort on their next meeting.
- - - - - - -
"Sa we oll welztay fo holidz?"
"No" Hermione was already used to hearing her friend speaking before swallowing his food.
"You will be going home?"
"Yes. I would break my parents' hearts otherwise."
Harry seemed to think about that, nodding slightly. "I hadn't seen it that way. Hey, d'ya think I should be going back to Privet Drive? I wouldn't like to break any hearts."
They stared at him and then laughted hysterically. It was so good that he had gotten over all his childhood, Hermione thought. Less than that would have made other people rot, but not Harry.
Dumbledore got up, and paused for silence.
"The term will be finishing in a week, and you will be leaving for Christmas holidays." Dumledore had to ask for silence again "As you probably know, we have had some complaints from your parents about keeping you here at the school with the Tri Wizard Tournament, and with the Yule Ball other times. This year, most of you will be going home for the holidays, and for that reason, we have decided to bring Yule Ball a little bit forward... it will take place next Saturday, before you leave."
At the table, everyone exchanged glances of happiness. Except her.
"Hermione? Would you come with me to the dance?" Ron asked.
She didn't want to. She didn't want to go to the dance, first of all. Then, she didn't want Ron as a partner. She preferred... she didn't allow herself to think about it. She just found the looks Ron shot at her disgusting, and the way his sweaty hand grabbed hers, and she knew he wouldn't let this chance pass without trying to get more than a dance. But she had to go, and it was better with a friend.
"Err... ok, Ron, yes"
He grinned and made Victory sign with his fingers.
"You cannot say I asked you too late this time" he said, referring to the time she was Victor Krum's partner. She wanted to forget that time, so she didn't answer.
Draco Malfoy was again staring at her, with no discretion at all, and smiling with mischief. She shuddered.
- - - - - - -
But once you liked Ron, she told to herself, in her room.
No, I didn't. I just had some kind of stupid crush on him, but it was just the same one I had on Harry our first year here! Now I know what I want.
Well, she really didn't, but at least after Viktor, she was sure she wanted someone who respected her for what she was; who would not babble only about Quidditch, someone brave, someone who could protect her, someone who didn't need a babysitter. Someone self-assured, well, someone far from Ron or Harry.
- - - - - - -
Holidays. He really didn't mind. It was holidays, what meant time for his research and no students. Also Granger was leaving so he would be able to enjoy all of his time in his own. Great. He would drink brandy, go to Dark Revels, and maybe read a book or two if Dumbledore's invented parties and events didn't interrupt him too much.
He was fed up with the girlish chatter about the Yule Ball he was hearing everywhere. It was only a stupid dance! Voldemort was out there, threatening their lives, and the students were so childlish they were worried about a Ball. He hadn't taught them anything, then. They hadn't learnt but to fear him, and to brew a couple of simple potions. He sighed.
He still had to remind the other Heads of Houses to warn students not to try to drink alcohol at the party. He would enjoy spotting them if they did.
- - - - - - -
And so, the days passed and the holidays approached more and more.
That Tuesday, Snape was not in a very good mood for a detention.
"Take out your wand"
She did so.
He took something like a basin and pointed his head with his wand.
"But Professor, I thought you said..."
"I know. I just thought we should begin with Occlumency first, so that you have time to practice it over the holidays. And maybe then you could also help your friend Potter, who seems unable to make any progress."
He pointed the pensieve with his wand and a silver line began pouring itself into the basin.
"Now, ready?"
"Yes"
"Legilimens"
Last Yule Ball, discussing with Ron... last summer, bored to death in Grimmauld Place... her parents lying death on the floor... that was a dream... Harry, Snape and Dumbledore in front of a big Snake, her screaming, them killed, her killing Potter... the circus of horrors seemed neverending.
No doubt this girl needs a Dreamless Sleep Potion, Circe! I'd even recommend a couple of months at St. Mungo's!!! Snape thought
She was trying to resist to the attack but she failed.
He looked at her with that very peculiar glance he had when he was thinking about something that had surprised him, raising an eyebrow.
"About that dream I've just seen, Miss Granger..."
"Yes, I think I should be allowed to use a Pensieve also, Professor."
"Don't be ridiculous. Was it a dream, a vision, what?"
"A... a nightmare, sir."
Curious thing, they shared the same nightmare. He didn't think about it any longer, he would have time for it during the holidays. Sharing dreams with a student was not something he wanted to think of right in that moment. They went on with the class.
- - - - - -
She was exhausted. She just had to reach her bed... damned Snape, damned detentions, and blasted Occlumency.
On her bed rested a large package. "For Hermione" it read.
She unwrapped it and opened the box it contained. She stared at the present, speechless. At least it couldn't be Ron's, she had been scared of it, but this was too expensive.
She took the note, and smiled widely.
Dear Herm, - how much she had hated that petty nickname, and how nice it sounded now-
Your dad and I thought you would like to get your Christmas present in advance this year?
It is your size, or at least so I hope. You are a woman now, and you will be probably be even more changed than when I saw you last summer.
Please, if you have such things as photographs there, send us one. We are still parents of an sixteen-year-old young woman!
Love,
Mum and Dad
P.S., who are you going to the dance with?
P.S.II. See you very, very soon...
She giggled, unable to control her excitement. Touching the soft fabric of the incredibly precious dress that the box contained, not daring to put it on . At last, she did, and
fearfully walked to the mirror.
She was shocked. It fitted her, it really did. The dark bottle-like green brought out the best of her. Even without make-up and her disarranged hair she looked like an actress or a famous singer.
Thanks, mum and dad.She hadn't even thought about what she would be wearing and now she realized that probably the dress of the year before, which she wold have worn, was too small for her now. Her body has changed a lot, and she hadn't even realized, but with that green dress, she looked... well, her mum's choice (for it probably was) was great.
She put it in the wardrobe, and wrote her parents to thank them. She would ask Harry for Hedwig the next day, she thought, and then she sat down and read. Soon, she was completely immersed in Hamlet's vengeful kingdom, nearly smelling that which stank in Denmark.
- - - - - - -
And suddenly, it was Saturday morning.
She would miss her friends, and the magic. She would have to go out with her neighbour and lie about how her year had been in "that school she was attending in France". She thought she would prefer pretending to attend St. Brutus with Harry.
She started brewing a potion to smooth her hair. She did it in her room; she didn't want to face Snape, and neither wanted him to mock her for caring about her appearance. She didn't care, really, but she remembered the way everybody had looked at her when she entered the Ball with Viktor. Some kind of respect in their eyes. Even envy. She wanted that. She wanted to be esteemed. She couldn't get it by what she really was, what was wrong with pretending to be another thing for just one night?
Unluckily, the cauldron she had up there was too small, so she could brew only the potion needed for 2 doses. So forget about being pretty after the ball, Cinderella. She had a shower, and wrapped herself in a towel. There was a knock on the door.
"Uh... hello Hermione"
It was Lavender Brawn, and with her, Parvati Patil.
"Hello. How can I help you?"
"We just thought about paying you a visit... by the way, what are you wearing tonight?"
They sort of broke into her room. The dress she had been taking the year before laid over the bed. She wanted to transfigure it into a pair of sandals matching her new dress, but it was difficult and she was having some problems.
"Ohhh. I love this dress. It fits you"
Hermione could see her you-are-going-with-the-same-dress-than-last-year horrified glance, but she didn't say anything to correct her.
Lavender was in her bathroom, leting out excited exclamations about her muggle make-up.
Suddenly, Parvati and Hermione heard the sound of breaking glass and they rushed into the bathroom.
The floor was covered with the sleekeazy's hair potion she had been working on all the morning. She held in her tears, she wouldn't cry in front of her classmates, but this was too similar to Cinderella, she thought. Though she didn't really think Lavender had done it on purpose, she couldn't avoid noticing Parvati's delighted look, like if she was one of the stepsisters.
Apologizing they left her alone.
It was all ruined now. Well, she would be herself. Maybe she should also send the dress back to her mother. It was too expensive, too sophisticated. How had she believed she could outstand in a party? The only place where she could outstand was in a knowledge contest. But the only contest held in Hogwarts was that Triwizard Tournament, she thought bitterly.